There’s one thing I randomly thought about recently. It might actually be more suitable for the unpopular opinions thread, but since it is positive, I’m posting it here.
I really like that Pikachu out of all Pokémon is the mascot for the series. I think it a great mascot because it is both cool, cute and funny at the same time. The cuteness is especially notable since it one of the very few Pokémon from Gen 1 that is actually cute (in my opinion). It has a very simple design, but it doesn’t need to be complicated since I think a simple design is more suitable for a mascot. I think it has one of the better designs from Gen 1. Pikachu definitely gets too much attention at times, but I think it should stay the series mascot. And since it has been the mascot ever since the start, it is easily recognizable even for people who aren’t Pokémon fans. I have heard that Clefairy was originally planned to be the series mascot, though I’m not sure if that is true (couldn’t find a reliable source). Either way, I’m happy that it didn’t turn out that way because I’m not a huge fan of Clefairy’s design. I think Pikachu is way better, both as a Pokémon and a mascot for the series.
I also like how Eevee has become the secondary mascot for the series. It is yet another of the few Kanto Pokémon that I think is cute, and it complements Pikachu very well, way better than what Clefairy would have done.
Some more things I have thought of after playing Sword recently. I really like the Galarian Star Tournament, it is a fun alternative to the regular tournament. I like pairing up with different characters to battle other trainers in pairs, including some really unexpected ones. I think this does a good job at showcasing the great character cast of S/S, while offering some fun battles at the same time. I also like how it rotates between who can Dynamax, which means that your partner might Dynamax their ace if you don’t take the opportunity yourself!
When battling at certain arenas in S/S, such as at the online area (available in-game when battling Morimoto) or in the Stadiums, Ball Guy can be seen on the screen, doing various actions that mirror what happens in the battle. If one side Dynamaxes, Ball Guy will grow big, and if a Dynamaxed Pokémon faints, Ball Guy will faint. If one side has just one Pokémon left, Ball Guy will be very nervous. Those are some fun details which I like a lot.
I also like Ball Guy in general. This character manages to be both funny and creepy at the same time. And who is under that mask? Is it a man, a woman, or is it actually a Pokémon? It is a complete mystery and I hope we’ll never find out because it is more fun that way.
I have also noticed another Pokémon reference in a different game. I recently played through Persona 5 Royal (which was awesome), and during Futaba’s confidant, she makes at least two Pokémon references. First, she says “A wild <player> appeared” at one point. Later on, after you spend some time together with her and Mishima, Futaba says: “Mishima was nothing. He’s like the first gym leader.” Sadly, I only got to rank 5 with Futaba because there wasn’t enough time to max out her rank, and I ended up putting higher priority on other characters, so I don’t know if she makes any more references to Pokémon later on. But it is cool either way.